USC cornerback-wide receiver Adoree Jackson finally showed a glimpse of his skills Saturday night against Idaho, but with only six plays on offense still has a lot more to offer especially as the Trojans’ schedule gets a lot more respectable.

“I showed a little bit,” Jackson said. “I’m just out there having fun and being patient. I don’t want to rush things. I didn’t feel I did anything but at the same time it was a good game.”

Jackson wowed the crowd when he took a shovel pass and weaved all over the field for a 31-yard gain.

“I was just out there having fun, doing what I know,” he said.

Jackson finished with four receptions for 62 yards but has much higher expectations for explosive plays. It might be difficult for him defensively because Idaho only threw in his direction once on an incomplete pass.

The sophomore said after two easy games the Trojans need to raise their performance Saturday against Stanford at the Coliseum.

“I think the first two games were great to see where we are as a team,” he said. “Now we need to put it all together.”

Risking injury?

Jackson said he does not like to fair-catch punts and he took a hard hit right as he caught the ball. That could haunt USC if Jackson ever gets hurt on a play that is not considered vital.

“On our team we don’t play not to get hurt,” Sarkisian said. “He just believes in his own ability that he can make the first guy miss. He’s not thinking about not getting hurt. He’s thinking about getting to the end zone.”

Jackson said he has no intentions of fair-catching punts.

“That’s how I’ve been throughout my whole high school career,” he said. “That’s just one of those things where you need to make the first guy miss.”

Where’s the pass rush?

USC’s defense registered one sack against lowly Idaho and one against Arkansas State. Sarkisian was asked about the Trojans’ pass rush so far this season.

“It’s been OK,” he said. “It hasn’t been the strength of our defense.”

Sarkisian said when USC does put pressure on quarterbacks it’s outside defenders are not in the right position to get a sack.

The paltry sack numbers also expose two facts: USC does indeed miss All-American defensive tackle Leonard Williams. And in the first two games, defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox did not feel challenged enough to blitz the quarterbacks.

Third-down blues

USC is a woeful 4 for 16 on third-down conversions despite two blowouts. Sarkisian said one issue is the coaching staff slowing down the tempo on third down to call “the perfect play.”

Rogers finds way to excel

Wide receiver Darreus Rogers is barely getting any chances to catch the ball with only one reception against Idaho but Sarkisian praised his blocking.